Anthony Yepez, SVP of Brand Strategy & Marketing Partnerships at CEG (Central Entertainment Group) joins the Social Pros podcast to discuss the interesting dynamics of influencer-brand relationships and the best way to maximize them. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Full Episode Details Word on the virtual streets has it that influencer marketing is catching on like a wildfire… and it’s not dying down anytime soon. With social media users seeking out more genuine connections, there are few better ways to reach out to them than influencers. Joining Social Pros for the second time around, Anthony Yepez, SVP of Brand Strategy & Marketing Partnerships at CEG, takes the mic to discuss the delicate dynamics of the influencer-brand relationship. We catch up on what he’s been up to since he last joined the show before he delves headfirst into brand expectations for influencers and the best way to ensure those expectations are met. Anthony also explains where the influencer’s creative freedom stops and brand safety kicks in. Hint: it’s all about finding the right balance. In This Episode: 03:58 What Anthony has been up to since he last joined the show 06:07 Anthony gives some insights into his new role 07:49 The unique dynamic between sales and relationship building 09:52 What brand expectations for influencers are right now 10:44 The importance of data when matching influencers with your audience 12:20 Why it’s vital to know what you want to accomplish with influencers 14:00 How influencer marketing has evolved over the years 16:41 Long term vs short term brand-influencer collaborations 18:46 Why it’s important to give creators the liberty to create 21:16 How to balance creative freedom with brand safety 23:20 Common ways brands overlook creative executions 25:29 Anthony’s take on which social media platform is the best for influencing 32:17 Why social media platforms need some sort of regulation 35:09 Anthony’s advice to social pros on creating a work-life balance 38:18 Misconceptions about content creation that lead to burnout 41:42 Anthony’s advice to anyone who wants to become a social pro Resources Get the new State of Marketing report for free from Salesforce Check out Anthony's first Social Pros Episode Join the Social Media Manager Slack Community Follow Anthony on Twitter Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.